Judge okays exhumation of lottery winner to confirm death by cyanide

Urooj Khan: Exhumation of lottery winner ok to confirm cyanide death

CHICAGO — A judge Friday granted prosecutors permission to exhume the body of an Indian-born lottery winner who was fatally poisoned with cyanide just as he was about to collect his $425,000 payout.

Authorities want to do a fuller autopsy on Urooj Khan to confirm earlier but less thorough toxicology tests, as well as to rule out that natural causes contributed to the 46-year-old’s sudden death, according to documents filed with the motion for an exhumation.

Facing dozens of reporters after a judge signed off on the request, Khan’s sister said the thought of her brother’s body being unearthed and re-examined was disturbing — but essential.

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“It’s very hard,” a tearful Meraj Khan said. “I wanted my brother to rest in peace, but we have to have justice served.” She added about the exhumation, “It has to be done.”

Khan’s July 20 death was initially ruled a result of natural causes. But a relative asked authorities to look deeper, triggering more exams that led to the conclusion in November that the businessman was intentionally poisoned.

Cook County’s Medical Examiner’s Office didn’t initially perform a comprehensive autopsy because there were no outward signs of physical trauma and it was thought he died of cardiac arrests, the state’s attorney’s motion said.

It wasn’t immediately clear when the exhumation will happen.

Police have released few details about the investigation; they have not announced any suspects or a possible motive or said which relative asked for the more thorough inquiry.

The man’s wife, Shabana Ansari, has said she can’t believe her husband had any enemies and that she was not involved in his death.

One of Ansari’s lawyers said before Friday’s hearing that she doesn’t oppose the exhumation. But Al-Haroon Husain said Ansari wants to ensure Islamic religious practices are adhered to, though he didn’t elaborate.

Al-Haroon Husain said he would also ask authorities to carefully document the exhumation and autopsy, including by taking photographs, to ensure the procedures are carried out properly.